One in two members of the next generation are Apple fans, a study by Nielson has revealed, showing that almost half of under-12s questioned want an iPad in the next six months.

And that's a full-sized iPad too. Apple products make up four of the top five products on tot gadget wish lists as compiled by survey-makers Nielsen. Forty-eight per cent of the kids aged six to 12 Nielson questioned said they wanted the iPad, a further 36 per cent wanted an iPad Mini, 36 percent wanted an iPod Touch and 33 per cent wanted an iPhone.

The Nintendo Wii U managed to break onto the gadget wish list at number two, with 39 per cent of the under-12s keen to pocket the gaming device.

The questionnaire asked the tots about "interest in buying" each device but it seems more likely that it's going to be "interest in pestering your parents' to buy" a given device, since it seems unlikely any paper round would pay for an iPad ($499, £399) in a hurry.

Past the age of 12, children's interest in Apple wanes and they become less brand-focused, with 19 per cent asking for a non-branded computer, and 18 per cent asking for a tablet computer other than iPad.

But the iPad still tops the gadget wish list for 13+s, with 21 per cent interested in buying an iPad in the next six months.

The top five desired gadgets for teenagers are: the iPad, a computer, a tablet computer other than an iPad, the Nintendo Wii U and the iPhone.

Interestingly, the iPad Mini clocks in at number 9 on the wish list - below ereaders and tablets other than iPad. ®